[QUOTE]Originally posted by Applepie:Why is ATA so bad? My instructor has kept people at their belts if they weren't ready, and has even taken them away when students were disrespectful. [/QUOTE]

Are you sure it is ATA or the instructor. Who would want to promote a student if they aren't ready, that is silly. Ummm wait a minute, a commercial martial art school would. You have to think if someone just gives out belt then what is really the use of earning one. If a student is disrespectful, what is it teaching the student, to be respectful. C'mon, I know that disciplining a student by taking away the belt maybe harsh but, see it from the teacher's point of view, Student comes to me to learn, he/she disrespects me, I correct them, okay he/she continues to disrespect me, they do 100 push ups, they decline, okay, give them a verbal warning, they say "who cares", ask for the belt in hand and request when they are ready to hold that belt with honor and dignity and to respect the value of the tradtions of martial art then he/she can wear it. A belt regardless of the color (except Black), symbolizes meaning and sweat, where as a Black belt use to mean SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. Actually let me correct my self, Black Belt means alot, by law ( you need to check with your local law ) you must notify your perp (perpetrator - one who is fighting you) that you are a black belt. Why? you are considered by law a walking lethal weapon. Think about it, someone calls you a name, okay, you turn around and pop him/her one. Your arrested for assault and batter, he/she takes you to court, the judge finds you guilty do to lack of control because of your studies of martial arts, you must serve 6months to a year or do community service and then pay for doctor bills. Do you want to be the one that just paid for his black belt or the one that earned it and can control the aspects of Self Defense. Don't be the next victim. Judges expect alot more from us and so do the law.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TKD info:Are you sure it is ATA or the instructor. Who would want to promote a student if they aren't ready, that is silly. Ummm wait a minute, a commercial martial art school would. You have to think if someone just gives out belt then what is really the use of earning one. If a student is disrespectful, what is it teaching the student, to be respectful. C'mon, I know that disciplining a student by taking away the belt maybe harsh but, see it from the teacher's point of view, Student comes to me to learn, he/she disrespects me, I correct them, okay he/she continues to disrespect me, they do 100 push ups, they decline, okay, give them a verbal warning, they say "who cares", ask for the belt in hand and request when they are ready to hold that belt with honor and dignity and to respect the value of the tradtions of martial art then he/she can wear it. A belt regardless of the color (except Black), symbolizes meaning and sweat, where as a Black belt use to mean SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. Actually let me correct my self, Black Belt means alot, by law ( you need to check with your local law ) you must notify your perp (perpetrator - one who is fighting you) that you are a black belt. Why? you are considered by law a walking lethal weapon. Think about it, someone calls you a name, okay, you turn around and pop him/her one. Your arrested for assault and batter, he/she takes you to court, the judge finds you guilty do to lack of control because of your studies of martial arts, you must serve 6months to a year or do community service and then pay for doctor bills. Do you want to be the one that just paid for his black belt or the one that earned it and can control the aspects of Self Defense. Don't be the next victim. Judges expect alot more from us and so do the law.[/QUOTE]

I also want to add that if you are being attacked and have no time to mention that you are a black belt then you have to do what is necessary to defend. Otherwise, notifying your perp will give them a decision to either to continue to fight or step away and walk away.

I mean... they're calling ATA a McDojang and that they give out belts if they pay for it, and I was trying to say something to contradict it. Because I don't think... that all ATA schools are McDojangs.

Okay... would you clarify one last thing for me?I guess there are DoJangs where, if you work your butt off, you'll get the most out of it, but if you don't, you'll still get a belt but it won't get you anywhere.